MISSOURI VALLEY | Saturday’s games

Illinois State, 13, Northern Iowa 3

NORMAL, lLL.

Tevin Allen’s fumble recovery for a touchdown led Illinois State to victory over Northern Iowa. Special teams and turnovers factored large in this defensive battle. After Northern Iowa’s second possession, the Redbirds’ Teddy Corwin deflected Logan Beighler’s punt — which went just five yards — leading to Nick Aussieker’s 24-yard field goal. On the next play from scrimmage, Chad Owens fumbled and Allen scooped it up and went 17 yards to put Illinois State (5-4, 4-2 MVC) up 10-0. Northern Iowa (4-5, 0-5) scored in the third quarter courtesy of its special teams. Shawn Rush blocked C.J. Laros’ punt, setting the Panthers up on Illinois State’s 22-yard line. Three plays resulted in just two yards though, and they settled for Tyler Sievertsen’s 37-yard field goal. The Redbirds benefited from another short punt in the fourth, setting up Aussieker’s 28-yard field goal to ice the win.

Missouri State 49, Indiana State 7

SPRINGFIELD, MO.

Missouri State returned a school-record three interceptions for touchdowns. Rique Bentley, Jeremy Springer and Sybhrian Berry each scored on interceptions as a part of a 28-0 third quarter for Missouri State (4-6, 4-2 MVC). Jeremy Springer almost returned an interception in the fourth quarter for a fourth defensive score but was knocked out of bounds at the Indiana State 12. Missouri State outrushed the Sycamores 210-115. Ryan Heaston ran 14 times for 89 yards for the Bears and Mikael Cooper-Falls added 49 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. The Sycamores’ only touchdown came from the game’s first interception returned for a touchdown by Donavan Layne in the second quarter. After he tied the score at 7, Missouri State scored 42 unanswered points. The loss snapped Indiana State’s (1-8, 0-5) three-game winning streak against the Bears.

Southern Illinois 34, Western Illinois 28

MACOMB, ILL.

Ryan West threw for two touchdowns in his first collegiate start, and Southern Illinois held on to defeat Western Illinois. Kory Faulkner had started 26 consecutive games for the Salukis (5-4, 3-2 MVC) before breaking a finger last week. West’s two TD passes gave SIU a 14-0 lead, and the Salukis would not be caught.The Leathernecks (3-7, 1-5), losers of five straight, outgained SIU 460-278 and had a 29-16 edge in first downs. J.C. Baker had 25 carries for two touchdowns, and Trenton Norvell threw for two scores.Baker’s 63-yard run got WIU within 20-14 in the third quarter but a field-goal attempt was blocked and returned 85 yards for a score by Bryan Presume.Baker came back with a 1-yard score, but Malcolm Agnew’s 8-yard run put SIU up 34-21 early in the fourth. WIU scored a touchdown 30 seconds left.

Associated Press